Two weeks into officially dating Garrett, Hannah feels happier than she has in a long time. Their relationship has settled into an easy rhythm of intimacy, studying, rehearsals, and hockey games, and Hannah is excited about where things are going. That sense of security is shattered when her performing arts advisor, Fiona, tells her that Mary Jane and Cassidy have gotten permission to remove Hannah from their duet so Cassidy can perform the song alone at the showcase.

Hannah is furious, both because the change comes only four weeks before the performance and because it threatens her scholarship chances. Fiona explains that Mary Jane claimed the song worked better as a solo, and Cassidy then argued it should be sung by a male voice. Although Fiona does not approve, she says duet partnerships can legally dissolve and that Hannah cannot force Mary Jane to reverse the decision. Instead, Fiona offers a workaround: Hannah may perform one of her own original songs, even without a composition-major partner, though she will now be eligible only for the performance scholarship.

That compromise initially feels inadequate because Hannah does not have a polished original ready, and she resents that Cassidy faces no real penalty. Fiona tries to steady her by pointing out that Hannah is strongest as a solo performer and reminding her that she had warned against the duet from the beginning. She promises rehearsal space, accompaniment, and other support, which leads Hannah to make one specific request: she wants Kim Jae Woo, the cellist, to work with her.

The narration then shifts to Garrett at Della’s, where Hannah tells Garrett, Allie, Dexter, and Logan what happened. Her friends are outraged on her behalf and insult Cassidy, while Garrett jokes about mentally beating him up and quietly admires how Hannah is handling the setback. As the group talks, Garrett reflects on how much he loves having Hannah as his girlfriend and how naturally she has become part of his life. The chapter closes on a lighter note when Hannah refuses to let Garrett and Logan drink soda before their game, showing both her care for Garrett and the comfortable dynamic she now shares with his world.